The Los Angeles Lakers are in a tricky spot a little less than halfway through the 2024-25 season. LeBron James and company sit at 20-15, atop the Pacific Division, at the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and within striking distance of the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets. They have also won seven of their last 10 and are hopeful to get some players back in the lineup soon.
By all of those measures, the Lakers season has been a success. However, the Lakers are one of two teams in the entire league to have a winning record but a negative point differential (Indiana Pacers) and rank 19th in the league in net rating, surrounded by mainly middling teams.